Injured Hen due to Bully- What to use?

[Poultry Friend]

I have 5 American game hens and 2 American Roosters. They are divided into two breeding pens. At first, all 5 were with the one roo, but I started noticing two bullies, so I moved 2 hens in with the second rooster. This pen now seems fine.

However, the other pen with 3 hens has a problem. One of the bullies seems to be actually very low on the flock ladder- so to speak.

When I first saw her she had some missing neck feathers due to mating and molting. This hen was also picking on the others. I had her pegged as a bully. I had noticed some other missing neck feathers, but assumed the rooster was favoring her. Today, it is clear she is being picked on *bad*!

Her comb and face have scabs all over them. Her right eye is swollen shut (or she is choosing not to open it) and her neck is also missing most of it's feathers (although you can see pin feathers coming in) and also has scabs on it.

I moved her into her own cage to recoup, but what medication can I use to help her get better? Would vetRX work for this? I know TSC has it and I can pick that up.

Also, my neighbor (whom I got the chickens from) has suggested I switch her out for another one, since the flock is unlikely to stop picking on her and another hen might be a better fit with the other 4 hens.

What should I do to nurse this hen back to health and what should I do to stop the bullying? Should I just switch her with another hen?

 

[TwoCrows]

I have used pinless peepers on an aggressive hen that would not stop ripping the others combs and I did not want to rehome her. Once they turn aggressive, normally they don't stop with it. If you do not want to rehome this bird or trade her out, you can do this and it WILL stop the aggression. Wearing these, the bird can not aim and fire off the beak! You have to leave them on the bird for a few months, but with the bird I was dealing with, after a few rounds of wearing these on and off for one year, she no longer wears her eye wear. (although I keep them on hand just in case!

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You can get them a eggcartons.com or randallburkey.com

 

[centrarchid]

Poultry Friend,

When confinement used I house game hens separately from each other and often even rooster except when breeding desired. In confinement the rooster tends to be a little more amorous that he might be otherwise, especially if other roosters are around. Exception involves hens that are siblings (usually full) and raised together with pen being relatively large. Introducing a new hen to a group is likely to cause problems. When setting up a group of birds involving hens that are not of same harem, I add them to same pen at same time so neither is on home turf. They are going to fight so make sure no major damage occurs before pecking order resolved. Sometimes rooster will break up some fights, sometimes he will be a problem in his own right. My confined roosters are most problematic with hens when rooster in heavy molt. Another kicker is some roosters get a little harem they are happy with and will then attack hens not of group to point where hen can be killed. Be on your toes and always have an extra empty cage available. If rooster proves abusive but you still need hatching eggs, then look into tie-cords.



PS get a camera.